As we are sure Members are aware, the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, announced this week (20 April) that the planned relaxation of current restrictions planned from 26 April will go ahead and Scotland will move to Level 3 on Monday. The First Minister also outlined that Scotland will move to Level 2 on 17 May if cases continue to fall, and the plan is for the country to then enter Level 1 on 7 June.
How does this affect Farm Parks?
Whilst the outdoor attractions at Farm Parks were never told to close, the date for soft play to reopen is 7 June, along with funfair rides. Other indoor attractions (museums, galleries etc) and hospitality (cafés/restaurants) can reopen on 26 April.
Hospitality venues can open on 26 April until 8pm indoors (without alcohol) and 10pm outdoors where, subject to local licensing alcohol can be consumed. Numbers permitted at weddings, wakes and funerals increase from 20 to 50 people.
Last month ASVA asked whether rides within visitor attractions can open on 26 April or if these elements of the visitor experience will have to remain closed until we move into Level 1 – when rides at funfairs can reopen in the Scottish Government’s Strategic Framework. The Scottish Government has responded to ASVA on this issue today (20 April), providing the following statement: ‘Only rides that are integral to the wider visitor experience will be permitted to open on the 26 April. Any ride that is not integral to the experience must remain closed until the country moves into Level 1’. We would advise attractions to use your judgement in assessing whether your rides are integral to the overall experience.
The full statement by the First Minister’s full statement can be read here.
Travel Restrictions Eased
The other important development is that restrictions on travel are also being eased from 26 April to allow travel across Scotland and between Scotland, England and Wales. Restrictions on travel to and from Northern Ireland are also being lifted.
Tourist accommodation can re-open from Monday, however in self-catering the rules on indoor meetings (up to 6 people from a maximum of two households).
Test & Protect:
New guidance on collecting customer and visitor contact details
The Scottish Government has released updated guidance for the collection of Customer and Visitor Contact details. For the updated guidance on Test & Protect in visitor attractions and other sectors, please click here.
The key points that members should note are:
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It is not mandatory for visitor attractions to take contact details for all visitors, but it is advised. The official guidance states: ‘Collecting contact details is voluntary, but it is important that both premises and individuals cooperate, as it is crucial to national efforts to suppress the virus’. Members should be cognisant of this and, where possible, look to continue to support the national efforts to suppress the virus.
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It is mandatory however to collect details from anyone using hospitality settings in your attraction. In practice, this means if your attraction has a café or restaurant, you must either collect contact details from everyone upon entry into your attraction, or from everyone upon entry into your café/restaurant.
- In contrast to last year’s test & protect guidelines, the Scottish Government is now requesting that contact details be taken for every visitor, not just a ‘lead’ person.
- The following data is to be collected from each visitor to your café/restaurant/other hospitality setting:
- The name of each visitor
- A contact phone number for each individual
- Date of visit and arrival and, where possible, departure time.
- If a customer does not have a telephone number, premises may give people the option to provide a postal address or an email address
